Snow Unexpected

 

 

The afternoon stage left the last stop before reaching the town of Four Corners, the town where the only female left on the stage, and the gentleman escorting her, would be getting off.  Smiling at the gentleman with her, her best friend for the last 100 or so years, she signed to him “When we get off the stage, I’ll be speaking and using you for listening to whoever I’m talking too.  If I’m not understanding or who I’m talking to isn’t looking at me, I’ll sign for asking what they said.  Sound okay?”

 

“Yes, that sounds fine to me,” he replied in kind.  Smiling and testing to see if she was actually ‘listening’, he asked in English “Why teaching?”

 

With a smile, she shrugged and said “Why not.  Grandmamman would have been fine with me learning what she does, but I wouldn’t make much money from it.  I don’t really want to be a nurse, and from what Grandpapa said from what he’d heard in town, female doctors, although daddy said there is one in Colorado Springs, are frowned upon.  Granted, I usually do what I want anyway, I thought teaching would help me get out of Louisiana.  And it did.  Not that I mind you escorting me, but I wasn’t happy Grandmamman wanted me to have an escort.  I’m not some young, naive girl.  And I’ll have to pretend I don’t know the sheriff already.”

 

“She still didn’t want you traveling alone.   And I’m looking forward to it.  Is he the one you told me about already?”  She nodded at him with her eyes sparkling.  Grinning across at her, he pulled his ermine coat closer around him and sat back.

 

Shaking her head, with her own grin, she adjusted her duster type, fir lined, coat and watched out the window at the barren landscape, after glancing down at the wolves lying at her feet.

 

The stage arrived around one in the afternoon on a brisk Friday early in November bringing the new school mistress.  A gentleman stepped down first, putting his hand up to help a petite woman, looking to be in her mid-20’s, by the name of Brandi Stewart.  Stepping off the stage, her hand now on the arm of the gentleman with her, she smiled her thanks to the driver as he placed her bags on the sidewalk.  She then did a quick snap of her fingers to have her wolves also get off the stage.  Taking a deep breath, she brushed the dust off her skirts then looked down at the expectant faces.  Brandi had a good feeling about this place.

 

Brandi was aware the driver watched her, as others on the stage had, though she wasn’t sure if it was because of the tattoos that covered her left side, the left side of her face, neck and hand being all they could see, her half white/half blond hair, or the simple fact she was beautiful, in spite of the hair and tattoos.  The man sitting next to her had also had a close look at her eyes, the left one being a white/silver, looking like a blind eye, and the right being an arctic ice blue.  Only family and her escort knew the real reason behind how she looked.

 

She had answered an ad in the New Orleans Gazette for the teaching position. It included room and board, besides $10 a month.  Although it was in Arizona Territory, she didn’t mind.  She was willing leave New Orleans.  If she thought it strange that the ad was placed in a paper so far away, she kept it to herself.

 

As she waited for the sheriff to meet her, she looked up and down the street, and at the storefronts.  Looking at her companion, she suddenly said “Roger.”  When he looked at her she asked “You are planning on staying on the up and up, aren’t you?’

 

“I will now, since I know you’ll be watching more closely.”  He leaned against a pole, lighting a special cigarette of his, watching as she went back to looking around.

 

Shaking her head with a quiet sigh and smile, she looked more at what lined the street for businesses.  Seeing the saloon, she wandered down to it and looked in.

 

The first thing she noticed was a piano and she smiled.  As she continued to look, she took in the bar itself with the tender behind, a few customers that didn’t look to rough, and a waitress.  Moving to the other side of the doorway, her eyes lit and stopped on a handsome man playing poker with some others, though not always dealing from the top when dealing to himself.

 

She laughed to herself, wondering about him when she heard in her head *Listen* and then heard a throat clear behind her.  Turning, her smile faltered slightly when she found herself looking at a chest from her 5′ height.  Looking up, her smile faltered more when she saw him, standing 6’3”, nearly a foot and a half taller than herself, and the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on.  He had the greenest eyes and was dressed all in black.  Tipping his head to her, he said “Afternoon ma’am.  Are you Mrs. Stewart?”

 

Nodding, she swallowed and replied “Actually, it’s Miss, but yes.  May I ask who you are?”

 

A ghost of a smile passed across his lips.  “Excuse me.  Miss Stewart.  I’m Sheriff John Christian.  Ready?”

 

Moving over to her bags, she picked them up and said “I’m ready.”  She looked over at Roger, who fell in step behind her.  Looking up at the sheriff, she said “This is my friend, and traveling companion, Roger Ryan.  He’ll just need to be shown where the hotel is, if possible.”

 

Looking back at the man, the sheriff stopped and nodded surprised he had to look up at Roger.  “Pleased to meet you sir.  As for the hotel, it’s just there across the street.”

 

Looking at where the sheriff showed, Roger nodded his thanks then asked Brandi “Are you going to do okay if I head there now?”

 

As she nodded, she saw the sheriff raise an eyebrow in question.  Since he wasn’t supposed to know her, she explained “I can’t hear.  But, when I lost it 22 years ago, my Grandfather taught me of another way to hear, besides using Indian sign or reading lips.  If I am around people I haven’t been around before, and have someone who’s ‘voice’ I know, I can ‘use’ the person I know to help me listen.”

 

Giving a nod of his head, Roger headed to the hotel.

 

Nodding, the sheriff took one of her bags and headed down the sidewalk.  Coming to a door for a building on a block by itself, the sheriff opened the door and walked up to a man behind a counter.  Setting the bag down, he said “This is Miss Stewart, our new school mistress.”

 

Looking at his book, the man nodded and said “Follow me, ma’am.”

 

Looking at him, and thinking he said something, she said “I’m sorry, but I am unable to hear so I didn’t understand what you just said, if you said anything to me.”

 

Raising his head and looking directly at her he repeated “Follow me, ma’am.”

 

Grabbing the bag the sheriff sat down, Brandi followed the man to her room. He showed her where everything was and that there was a bath house down the street, but she could request a tub and hot water if preferred.

 

Sitting her bags on the bed, she did her way of listening, using the sheriff.  She’d check out the bath house later to see if she would have privacy to take a bath.  Taking the key, she placed it in a pocket fold of her skirt and then followed him out,

 

When they arrived at the school house, Sheriff Christian turned to her and asked “If you can’t hear, how will you instruct the kids?”

 

“Either the friend of mine you just met, or my brother, who is on his way, will use Indian sign to tell me what the kids say.  It’s how I got through training.”

 

Just as he was about to unlock the door to show her the inside, a 7 year old boy ran up to him.  “Hey dad.  Who’s this?”

 

Glancing at Brandi, he shrugged slightly and then looked at his son, saying so she would see “This Johnny is your new teacher, Miss Stewart.  Miss Stewart, this is one of your kids, my son, John Jr, or Johnny.”

 

Although her eyes sparkled, she kept a serious look on her face and said “Nice to meet you Johnny.  I look forward to teaching you.”

 

Looking up at her, Johnny, grinned a minute, then looked closer and asked “Why do you look funny?”

 

Seeing the sheriff was going to admonish the boy, she smiled and said “It’s okay.  For my face, there is nothing wrong with it.  I was born with the marks.  I’m Indian and my Grandfather said it meant I was to have luck all my life.  When I was four I had an accident which caused my hair to become half white and for my left eye to look like this.  It also took my hearing.  So you’ll see someone in the school house talking to me with their hands so I’ll know what you all are saying.”

 

Thinking about it for a minute, the boy nodded, smiled, said “Nice to meet you ma’am.  See you in a couple days.”

 

She laughed as she watched him run off to join his friends.  Looking back at the sheriff, she said “He’s cute.  You and your wife must be proud.”

 

A slight dark look crossed his features.  “I’m a widower.  My wife died when Johnny was 2 years old.”  Unlocking the door, he stepped aside for her to enter.

 

Stepping past him, she looked up and simply said “I’m sorry.”  She was sorry he’d lost his wife, but part of her was glad he wasn’t married.  She’d loved him for too long.

 

She spent the weekend between her room and the saloon.  She did her lesson plans, talked with Roger about his signing for her at school until her brother Michael arrived, and meeting others that helped the sheriff.  The others noticed her differences, but no one asked so she didn’t volunteer.  Neither did anyone ask about her and Roger signing.  She had noticed the sheriff tell them she couldn’t hear and that seemed to appease the rest.

 

The next couple weeks flew by.  The kids were eager for learning and she loved teaching them, more than she thought she would.  They also loved playing with the wolves during recesses.  The wolves were gentle when playing with the kids, knowing they’d be in trouble if any kids got hurt.

 

Her brother, older than her by 4 minutes, arrived and had brought her horse with him on a Friday as school was letting out.  Seeing them, she waved with a smile, hoping Thunder hadn’t given him much trouble.

 

Stopping on his way out the door, petting the wolves without thinking what he was doing, Johnny asked “Is that your horse on the lead?”

 

Brandi smiled down at him.  “It is.  But he doesn’t like most people so if you want to go and see him, have me, your dad or my brother with you please.  If he likes you and doesn’t get upset, then you may be able to go see him by yourself.  But not right away.  Deal?”

 

Giving both wolves one last pet, he smiled at her.  “Deal.  Can we go now to see him?”

 

Laughing, she replied “Of course.  Let’s stop to let your dad know where you’re going through.”

 

Starting to run ahead, he called out.  “Okay, I’ll meet you at his office.”

 

Brandi shook her head, turning when she felt someone step onto the wood next to her.  Smiling up at Roger, she took her bag and keys from him.  As she locked the door, she said “Mike’s here.  With Thunder.  I’m going down to the livery to welcome Mike and see my demon horse.  Johnny saw Thunder and wants to meet him up close.  So taking him with me.  You and Mike can decide on who and when with me in the classroom.”

 

“When he gets settled in the hotel, I’ll work it out with him.  I’ll be over at the saloon if you need me.”  Leaning down, Roger kissed her cheek, then pulled out one of his cigarettes and lit it on his way down to the saloon.

 

Brandi stopped at the sheriff’s office and found the sheriff was joining them.  Smiling, she was glad since Thunder’s reaction to him would tell her a lot.  Hercules and Ares already liked the man, and the son, and her horse’s reaction would cement it for her.  Then she’ll have to get the man to ask her to dinner.

 

The rest of November flew by with the weather turning colder.  She was letting Johnny go see Thunder alone, as long as he told her or his dad that he was going.

 

At the start of December the snow came.  Since it was desert, she was surprised, and when she asked about it, John told her they got snow in the winter because of their closeness to the mountains.  Then, as they stood outside his office, watching the snow, on that Friday afternoon, she got a surprise.

 

“Do you have plans tomorrow evening, Brandi?”

 

Looking over at him, she hid her smile.  “Not at the moment I don’t.  Why do you ask?”

 

He felt nervous.  It had been years since he’d asked a woman out.  “Would you like to have dinner with me?”

 

She hid her excitement as well as she hid her smile.  She took a few minutes to answer, making it look like she was thinking it over.  Looking up at him, she moved away from the wall.  “Yes, I’d like that.”

 

Smiling at her, he said “I’ll be by to get you at seven then.”

 

Nodding, she smiled then and headed back to the boarding house.

 

They had dinner at the town restaurant several more times over the next couple weeks.  Then, on the last day of school before Christmas break, Johnny stepped up to her desk after class.

 

“Miss Stewart?  My dad wanted me to ask if you wanna have Christmas with us.”

 

“Please tell him I’d be very happy to spend Christmas with you both.  What time should I be there?”

 

He grinned. “I’ll be up early.  When the sun comes up.  You can be there then.”

 

“Can I be there a little later than that?”

 

His shoulders dropped a little.  “I suppose so.  See you then.”

 

He’d turned and gone before she’d had the chance to say bye.

 

On Christmas day, it was snowing heavy, not quite a blizzard yet, but she knew it would be soon.  She showed up out at John’s house at ten in the morning, before the weather got bad.  She hadn’t seen the house before and she loved the look.  A large and beautifully made log cabin.  Knocking, her smile grew when John answered the door.  Stepping inside, she was more impressed.  One story with two bedrooms, a large kitchen/dining area and a large living room, with a fireplace.  A fire was already going.  A beautiful Christmas tree sat in a corner still full with gifts underneath.  She handed him a bag she carried with gifts for him and Johnny in it.

 

They joined Johnny in the living room and gifts were opened.  She hadn’t expected them to get her anything since she and John hadn’t been dating very long.

 

As Johnny finished his gifts, John got himself some coffee and Brandi some hot tea.  Getting up, after Johnny finished, she went to look out the window at the weather.  She wasn’t surprised to find Thunder had made his own way to the barn, or at least she thought he had since she didn’t see his black coat, and that the weather had turned worse.  The snow was still coming down and it was pure white.  She sensed when John stepped up behind her.  Without looking at him, she quietly said “I came out at the right time.  If I was out there right now and had my hair down or so you could see that the left side was white, I’d look like I have no hair on that side if I was out there.  I think Thunder made his way to the barn.”

 

Without thinking about what he was doing, he rubbed a hand up and down one arm as he slipped his other arm around her waist.  Knowing she’d hear him, he said “You’ve had him for a long time, Dee.  He knows to get out of a storm.  I let Johnny know, when I asked him to invite you today, that we’ve known each other for 20 years, and that by the time you were old enough, I already knew his mom.”  Turning her to him, he finished with “Looks like your stuck here until the weather lifts some.  Think you can handle being snowed in with me and Johnny?”

 

Smiling at him, she simply said “I wouldn’t want to be snowed in any place else.”  Standing on her toes, she kissed him.